Agencies, June 13, 2025 : A devastating air tragedy struck Ahmedabad on Thursday as Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing at least 265 people. Among the dead were 229 passengers and 12 crew members, as well as several individuals on the ground after the aircraft collided with a hostel building of B.J. Medical College and Civil Hospital.
The rescue operation, declared complete by midnight, concluded with the recovery of 265 bodies from the wreckage. The intense blaze, reportedly reaching temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Celsius due to 1.25 lakh litres of aviation fuel onboard, made survival chances nearly impossible. Only one passenger, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was found alive. He was seated in 11A and was transported to Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad’s Asarwa area with injuries to his face, chest, and feet. His brother, who was also on the flight, remains unaccounted for.
The sole survivor recounted a terrifying experience, saying there was a loud noise roughly 30 seconds after takeoff. “It all happened so quickly,” he told The Hindustan Times. “When I got up, there were bodies all around me… Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance.”
Authorities have identified among the deceased former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The flight’s pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, had logged over 8,200 flying hours, while First Officer Clive Kundar had 1,100 hours. The official death toll awaits final confirmation as DNA tests are being conducted.
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the victims of the Ahmedabad air crash that shocked the nation on Thursday. He was 68.
Flight AI 171 had tragically slammed into the undergraduate hostel of B.J. Medical College just as students were gathered for lunch in the mess hall. This timing is believed to have worsened the already high casualty rate on the ground. A letter attributed to the Indian Medical Association Medical Students’ Network (IMA MSN) national body initially stated that 50 medical students perished. However, follow-up letters from the Uttar Pradesh state unit of IMA MSN later confirmed the death of at least three medical students from that state, with no overall tally confirmed yet. Efforts to verify the numbers from IMA MSN remain ongoing.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in an emergency briefing, acknowledged the scale of the catastrophe and confirmed that no meaningful rescue was possible given the high volume of fuel and the subsequent explosion. He convened a high-level meeting with senior officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry and Ministry of Home Affairs and assured coordinated support to Gujarat authorities. He also appealed to the public to maintain calm and solidarity.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal investigation into the crash in accordance with international protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Air India has activated a dedicated hotline (1800 5691 444) for families seeking information about their loved ones.
In the wake of the tragedy, questions are being raised about the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner’s safety record. The model had previously drawn attention following whistleblower reports by Boeing quality engineer Sam Salehpour. In 2021 and 2022, Salehpour had publicly warned about manufacturing flaws in both the 777 and 787 models. He alleged issues in shimming—used to fill tiny gaps in aircraft fuselage—and claimed Boeing routinely forced misaligned segments together, which could cause fatigue cracks over time. He further stated that his inspection data from 29 aircraft showed specification breaches in nearly 99% of cases. Boeing, in response, disputed these allegations, asserting that the structural integrity of the aircraft was not compromised.
Recent reports also indicated repeated diversions of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by American Airlines due to hydraulic leaks and flap malfunctions. That aircraft, with registration N819AN, experienced four emergency diversions in less than a month earlier this year.
As grief grips families of victims across continents—with nationalities including 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian—the Indian Medical Association and other civil bodies have called for urgent humanitarian aid. IMA MSN, in particular, has appealed for blood donation drives, medical volunteers, and logistical assistance to aid survivors and the overwhelmed local healthcare infrastructure.
With a national period of mourning declared and investigations underway, India and the international aviation community await answers to one of the deadliest air disasters in recent years.
